Play tent apparatus

ABSTRACT

A play tent apparatus includes a base assembly that includes a plurality of anchor members each having a bottom portion configured to rest upon a ground surface and a top portion having an upwardly hemispherical configuration that defines a plurality of receiver openings spaced apart from one another. The play tent apparatus includes a plurality of struts each having opposed ends and each extending between a selected pair of the plurality of bottom portions of the plurality of anchor members. Further, the play tent apparatus includes a support assembly that includes a plurality of ribs each having a flexible construction and a pair of ends each selectively coupled to respective receiver openings of respective top portions of respective anchor members. Each of the ribs includes a semi-flexible configuration so as to form an arch between the respective anchor members and so as to apply tension to proximate anchor members, respectively.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional utility patent application that claims the priority of provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 63/244,858 filed Sep. 16, 2021 entitled PLAY TENT STRUCTURE.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a structure with a base assembly and a flexible support assembly that is configurable by children into different shapes.

Children have a natural desire to build tents or fortresses and then to play in them. Homemade fortress making allows children to express their creativity. In fact, building a tent in the security of a child's own home brings both security and feelings of independence. A child's earliest remembrance of building his own tent may have involved draping blankets over chairs or arranging large cardboard boxes. Unfortunately, there has been very little change will progress in technology available for children to build tents or fortresses to the fullest extent of their creativity and then to change them over time so that this playtime remains fresh and inviting.

Various construction set kits intended to foster imagination have been proposed in the prior art. There are also large cushion and furniture kits that may be configured as desired. Although presumably effective for their intended purposes, the kits that have been proposed are expensive and difficult to store when not in use. They are often too costly or too much trouble to be worth owning and children quickly lose interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A play tent apparatus according to the present invention includes a base assembly that includes a plurality of anchor members each having a bottom portion configured to rest upon a ground surface and a top portion having an upwardly hemispherical configuration that defines a plurality of receiver openings spaced apart from one another. The play tent apparatus includes a plurality of struts each having opposed ends and each extending between a selected pair of the plurality of bottom portions of the plurality of anchor members. Further, the play tent apparatus includes a support assembly that includes a plurality of ribs each having a flexible construction and a pair of ends each selectively coupled to respective receiver openings of respective top portions of respective anchor members. Each of the ribs includes a semi-flexible configuration so as to form an arch between the respective anchor members and so as to apply tension to proximate anchor members, respectively.

Therefore, a general object of the present invention is to provide a play tent apparatus that may be configured and reconfigured into many different designs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a play tent apparatus, as aforesaid, that collapses into a compact and easily storable form.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a play tent apparatus, as aforesaid, that is inexpensive, may be constructed of plastic materials, and uses simple mechanics that are understandable and feasible for toddlers and young adolescents.

Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a play tent apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in use with four anchor members and four ribs;

FIG. 1 b is another perspective view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 1 a , illustrated in use with four anchor members and six ribs;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 a is a perspective view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4 c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from FIG. 4 b;

FIG. 5 a is an isolated perspective view of an anchor member according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 b is another perspective you taken from a lower perspective of the anchor member as in FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 a is a side view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 6 b is a sectional view taken along line 6 b-6 b of FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 6 c is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from FIG. 5 b;

FIG. 7 a is a perspective view of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 7 b is an isolated view on any large scale taken from FIG. 7 a;

FIG. 8 a is a a perspective view taken from a lower perspective of the play tent apparatus as in FIG. 1 a ; and

FIG. 8 b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from FIG. 8 a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A play tent apparatus will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 a to 8 b of the accompanying drawings. The play tent apparatus 10 may include a base assembly 12 and a flexible support assembly 14. The base assembly 12 includes a plurality of anchor members 16 and a matching number of struts 18. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are four anchor members 16 and four struts 18 extending therebetween, respectively.

Each of the anchor members 16 may have a two-part construction. Namely, each anchor member 16 may include a bottom portion 22 and a top portion 20 mounted atop the bottom portion 22. In some embodiments, the anchor members 16 may be referred to as base units and bottom portions 22 may be referred to as polygon bases. Further, each top portion 20 includes an upwardly hemispherical configuration (i.e., upwardly convex) mounted atop a bottom portion 22 such as with glue, sonic welding, screws, with a unitary construction (e.g., a mold), or the like. In some embodiments, a top portion 20 may be referred to in short as a hemisphere.

In a critical aspect, each top portion 20 may have a generally smooth outer surface that defines a plurality of receiver openings 26 evenly distributed and separated from one another. In one embodiment, the plurality of openings 26 are each angled downwardly toward the bottom portion 22. As shown, one of openings 26 may be positioned at the top of hemisphere 20 surrounded by a ring of additional openings 26 spaced on the hemisphere about ⅓ the distance down from the top. In another embodiment, a second ring of openings 26 is spaced down about ⅔ the distance from the top. The openings in the first and second rings may be aligned along the surface of the top portion 20 with the center of polygonal faces 24. It is understood that for the sake of clarity of the drawings, a plurality of receiver openings 26 are shown but without regard to being arranged in one or two rings as described above. In any case, the receiver openings 26 may be arranged in a ring or array.

In an important aspect, each top portion 20 defines an interior space 21 underneath its top surface. Further, the plurality of receiver openings 20 includes a tube 29 defining an interior channel in communication with the associated receiver opening 20. Each tube 29 extends down relay into the interior space 21 (FIG. 4 b ). In use, each tube 29 is configured to receive a respective end of a respective rib 28 in a friction fit arrangement, the configuration and operation of the plurality of ribs 28 to be described later in greater detail.

In an embodiment, each bottom portion 22 of an anchor member 16 may include a polygonal configuration—meaning a geometric object having multiple sides. For instance, a respective bottom portion 22 may have an octagonal configuration in which its peripheral edge defines 8 faces 24, each face being adjacent one another as the peripheral edge is traced circumferentially. Each face 24 defines an aperture 25 (or a recess or a complementary element of hardware) configured to receive respective ends of a strut 18 as will be described below in more detail. In a specific embodiment, such as one that may be included in a kit form, the bottom portion 22 may be 8″×8″ wide and the anchor member 16, in general, may be about 6″ high. Each face 24 may have a rectangular shape configuration although other polygonal configurations may also work.

In the present application, a strut 18 refers to the support member that extends between adjacent anchor members 16. Each strut 18 has the characteristics of a linear elastic material that maintains a predetermined level of rigidity while being length adjustable. A strut 18 has opposed ends that may be releasably coupled to respective faces 24 of respective bottom portions 22 of respective anchor members 16. Specifically, each face 24 a may define a respective aperture 25 configured to securely receive a respective end of a respective strut 18 and, in so doing, the plurality of struts 18 effectively separate and position the anchor members 16 apart from one another. In an embodiment, each of the struts 18 has a connector (FIG. 7 b ) on opposite ends and a length adjustment mechanism. The connectors are adapted for attachment at the center of polygonal faces 24. Suitable means for this purpose include clips configured to hook into respective eyebolts attached to polygonal faces 24. Other suitable means include spring biased pins that snap fit into recesses in polygonal faces 24. In the accompanying illustrations, the struts 18 consist of flat webbing strips but it will be understood that rope or tubing can also be used.

The length adjustment mechanism within each strut 18 will now be described in more detail. In an embodiment, each strut 18 may include a first tubular section 18 a that naturally defines an interior channel 18 c and a second tubular section 18 b having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first tubular section so as to be situated in the interior channel 18 c and slidably movable therein so as to lengthen or shorten a length of the strut 18 as will be described below. In an embodiment, the first tubular section 18 a may define a plurality of apertures 18 e each being spaced apart from the next. Further, each strut 18 may include a length adjustment assembly in the form of a spring-loaded button 18 d that is attached to the second tubular sections 18 b and which may be manipulated to regulate slidable movement of the sections (FIG. 6 c ). Even more specifically, the spring-loaded button 18 d may include a spring constructed of spring steel and which is operable such that the second tubular section 18 b is slidably movable within the interior channel 18 c of the first tubular section 18 a when the spring-loaded button is biased inwardly (i.e., manually depressed) and the second tubular section 18 b is unmovable along the interior channel when the spring-loaded button is released to fall into a respective aperture 18 e (FIG. 6 c ). In other words, the spring keeps the tubular sections unmovable condition when released but pressure thereon (such as by a user) allows the tubular sections to allow longitudinal movement thereof, i.e., lengthening or shortening the strut 18 overall).

In another aspect, the support assembly 14 includes a plurality of ribs 28 at least equal to the number of anchor members 16. In FIG. 1 a , there are four anchor members 16 and four ribs 28 but in FIG. 1 b , the number of ribs 28 is increased to six. The ends of ribs 28 are adapted for friction fit coupling in openings 26 in anchor members 16.

Plastic is the desired material for anchor members 16 and ribs 28 because it is sufficiently flexible to make the structural connections and is well suited for economical mass-production techniques. Ribs 28 may be formed to have a negative clearance (or interference) with corresponding openings 26 in the top portion 20 of anchor members 16 such that the structural connection is made with frictional forces.

It is critical, therefore, to understand that the anchor members 16 may be positioned sufficiently close to one another such that respective ribs 28 will naturally be flexed into the arched positions shown in the illustrations, the position of the anchor members 16 being selectable and secured because of the length adjustability of each strut 18 as described above. Obviously, the arched configurations of the ribs 28 are critical to a tent cover being supported in an expected configuration. The play tent apparatus 10 is free standing without a tent cover. A cover, however, may be added and can include mechanical attachments, like hook and loop fasteners, snaps, class, hooks, or some other fastening mechanism.

A basic kit for the play tent apparatus 10 includes four anchor members 16, four struts 18 and four to six ribs 28 which be packaged and stored in a suitable container such as a bag. When set up as shown in the figures, ribs 28 form an arch extending between selected anchor members 16 and apply a tension to struts 18 between the anchor members 16. Additional anchor members 16, struts 18 and ribs 28 may be added such that the play tent apparatus is expandable and easily set up in many different configurations to suit the imagination of a user. Other possible variations include having ribs 28 with different lengths and/or anchor members 18 with different arrangements of openings 26 which also changes the possible configurations. When a play session ends, the play tent apparatus 10 may be easily disassembled by pulling ribs 28 out of openings 26 and detaching struts 18 from anchor members 16 and the parts put back in the container for storage.

Accordingly, the objectives of the invention are achieved with a play tent apparatus that may be configured into many different forms, collapsed into a compact and easily storable form and may be inexpensively formed of plastic materials. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof. 

1. A play tent apparatus, comprising: a base assembly that includes a plurality of anchor members each having a bottom portion configured to rest upon a ground surface and a top portion having an upwardly hemispherical configuration that defines a plurality of receiver openings spaced apart from one another; a plurality of struts each having opposed ends and each extending between a selected pair of said plurality of bottom portions of said plurality of anchor members; and a support assembly that includes a plurality of ribs each having a flexible construction and a pair of ends each selectively coupled to respective receiver openings of respective top portions of respective anchor members; whereby said plurality of ribs each has a semi-flexible configuration so as to form an arch between said respective anchor members and so as to apply tension to proximate anchor members, respectively.
 2. The play tent apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said pair of ends of said plurality of ribs, respectively, are configured for receipt in said receiver openings, respectively, in a friction fit engagement.
 3. The play tent apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said bottom portion of a respective anchor member has a polygonal-shaped configuration and includes a plurality of faces positioned circumferentially adjacent one another, each face defining an aperture configured to receive a respective opposed end of a respective strut in a friction fit engagement; and said top portion of said respective anchor member is mounted to and extends upwardly from a top surface of said bottom portion of said respective anchor member.
 4. The play tent apparatus as in claim 1, wherein: said each top portion of said each anchor member defines an interior space; and said plurality of receiver openings each includes a tube extending downwardly into said interior space, said tube being configured to receive said respective end of said respective rib in a friction fit engagement.
 5. The play tent apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said bottom portion of a respective anchor member has an octagonal configuration having eight faces positioned circumferentially adjacent one another.
 6. The play tent apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said opposed ends of said plurality of struts are each configured to mate with a respective aperture of a respective face of a respective bottom portion of a respective anchor member so that said plurality of struts extend between said plurality of faces of said plurality of bottom portions.
 7. The play tent apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of struts each includes a length adjustable configuration.
 8. The play tent apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said plurality of struts each includes a first tubular section defining an interior channel and a plurality of spaced apart apertures and includes a second tubular section positioned inside and being slidably movable in said interior channel so as to lengthen or shorten a respective strut.
 9. The play tent apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said plurality of struts each includes a length adjustment assembly having a spring-loaded button coupled to said second tubular section and in communication with said first and second tubular sections that is operable such that second tubular section is slidably movable in said interior channel of said first tubular section when said spring-loaded button is biased inwardly and said second tubular section is unmovable in said interior channel when said spring-loaded button is released into a respective aperture.
 10. The play tent apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of receiver openings is arranged as a ring-shaped array.
 11. A play tent apparatus, comprising: a base assembly that includes a plurality of anchor members each having a bottom portion configured to rest upon a ground surface and each having a top portion mounted atop said bottom portion, said top portion having an upwardly hemispherical configuration that defines a plurality of receiver openings spaced apart from one another; a plurality of struts each including a length adjustable assembly and each having opposed ends coupled to a selected pair of said plurality of bottom portions of said plurality of anchor members; and a support assembly that includes a plurality of ribs each having a flexible construction and having a pair of ends each selectively coupled to respective receiver openings of respective top portions of respective anchor members; wherein said plurality of ribs each has a semi-flexible configuration so as to form an arch between said respective anchor members and so as to apply tension to proximate anchor members, respectively.
 12. The play tent apparatus as in claim 11, wherein: said top portion of a respective anchor member defines an interior space; and said plurality of receiver openings each includes a tube extending downwardly into said interior space, said tube being configured to receive a respective end of a respective rib in a friction fit engagement.
 13. The play tent apparatus as in claim 11, wherein: said bottom portion of a respective anchor member has a polygonal-shaped configuration and includes a plurality of faces positioned circumferentially adjacent one another about a peripheral edge thereof, each face defining an aperture configured to receive a respective opposed end of a respective strut in a nested engagement; and said top portion of said respective anchor member is mounted to and extends upwardly from a top surface of said bottom portion of said respective anchor member.
 14. The play tent apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said plurality of struts each includes a first tubular section defining an interior channel and a plurality of spaced apart apertures and includes a second tubular section positioned inside and being slidably movable in said interior channel so as to lengthen or shorten a respective strut.
 15. The play tent apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said plurality of struts each includes a length adjustment assembly having a spring-loaded button coupled to said second tubular section and in communication with said first and second tubular sections that is operable such that said second tubular section is slidably movable in said interior channel of said first tubular section when said spring-loaded button is biased inwardly and said second tubular section is unmovable in said interior channel when said spring-loaded button is released into a respective aperture.
 16. The play tent apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said plurality of receiver openings is arranged as a ring-shaped array. 